The Museum Centre Vapriikki, which is situated in Tampere, has been crowned Museum of the Century by musician A.W. Yrjänä at the Cultural Gala of the Century on 18 October 2017.

Finland, which is celebrating 100 years of independence this year, held the Cultural Gala of the Century to promote cultural agents and acts from the time of its independence.

The search for the museum started with a public vote organised by the Finnish Museums Association (a NEMO member). Out of the ten museums with the most public votes the expert group of the board of directors of the Finnish Museums Association selected six finalists: Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova, Ateneum, Museum Centre Vapriikki, the Serlachius Museums, The Finnish National Museum, and Visavuori Museum.

The musician and writer A.W. Yrjänä selected the museum to carry the title "Museum of the Century".

He chose Museum Centre Vapriikii and said of his choice at the award ceremony: "Vapriikki in Tampere is of this day. Fresh, broadly networked, multi-facial, situated in the middle of the everyday life of the city’s inhabitants. It’s deeply rooted in the history of Pirkanmaa, its industry, bedrock and waters, and has its top in the future. Happy, dynamic, skilful, for people of all ages and categories, from ice hockey fans to contemporary art freaks. Maybe not emblematically the museum of the past century, but definitely the museum of the next century!"